Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

But all the doubt is, Whether the seven reproved Churches in Rev. 2. and 3. were such or not? To which I say, 1. All of them professed the foresaid saving Faith. 2. There is no sin charged on them that was visible and inconsistent with true saving Faith. 1. For the Church of Ephesus, we heard what they were esteemed by Paul a little before; and here their grace is mentioned; and the faults expressed are consistent with true grace. 2. The same I say of the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatyra. And for the Nicolaitans and other Heretics, whom they are blamed for suffering (as the former is commended for hating them) they are such as were to be cut off from the Church; and while they were in it were not of it: Nor are they any where called Believers, Saints, Disciples, or Church-members.

But all the doubt is, Whether the seven reproved Churches in Rev. 2. and 3. were such or not? To which I say, 1. All of them professed the foresaid saving Faith. 2. There is no sin charged on them that was visible and inconsistent with true saving Faith. 1. For the Church of Ephesus, we heard what they were esteemed by Paul a little before; and here their grace is mentioned; and the faults expressed are consistent with true grace. 2. The same I say of the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatyra. And for the Nicolaitans and other Hereticks, whom they are blamed for suffering (as the former is commended for hating them) they are such as were to be cut off from the Church; and while they were in it were not of it: Nor are they any where called Believers, Saints, Disciples, or Church-members.

But it is the Church of Sardis that Mr. Blake takes special notice of. And it is said of her indeed, that she had a Name to live and was dead. But, 1. in that they had a name to live, it seems it was a living faith which they Professed, and not only one short of it. 2. Their death was not a death in reigning sin, such as is the death of the unsanctified: But a declining condition, comparatively called death, as the children of God do oft complain of deadness. And therefore its next said, [Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to dye.] And its expressed, that their deadness was in that their works were not found perfect before God; that is, that many or most of them had defiled their garments, (with some Heresy or vice) which the rest had not done. 3. How far this was notorious to others, is of further enquiry. 4. If they had gone on so far, as by obstinate impenitency after admonition to show themselves void of saving faith, they had been unchurched, as appeareth by the threatening.